I am having the same exact experience as described below.  Has anyone found a
solution??

Subject: Slow Reponse when designing forms   10/12/2005 8:22 PM PST

By:    Luke Bailey  In:    microsoft.public.access.forms
 

I am experiencing a nagging slow response time when using the design mode in
forms and reports in Access 2003.  When I click on any item in the
form/report, there is a 5-10 second delay before the item will show
highlighted and I can make any changes to size, position, etc.  This is not
isolated to 1 database; I seem to find it in numerous applications I work in.
I have tried moving from my network to a local copy and get the same  
response.  I have removed all data from tables, compacted and repaired; same
slow response.  I have uninstalled and re-installled access and still see the
same thing.  Other applications work fine - I am working on a 3 year old
laptop, but still is a fairly decent machine.  Any thoughts on what could be
causing the delay?  Is seems to be limited to design mode in forms and
reports.  Queries run just fine in the databases.